The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, November 2
Storrs, Conn.
2:00 PM
University of Akron
at
Connecticut
Akron Battles UConn
November 01 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The 13th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team closes the regular season traveling to Storrs, Conn., for a showdown with UConn on Saturday (Nov. 2). The 2 p.m. match with the Huskies will be broadcast on Flo Sports.
GAME INFO
Akron at UConn | Nov. 2 | 2 PM | Storrs, Conn. | Live Stats | FloSports
HEAD COACHES
UConn: Chris Gbandi (UConn, 2002), Overall Record: 56-70-19 (Ninth Season), Record at UConn: 24-18-9 (Third Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 190-80-43 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 143-59-35 (12th Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its tilt at UConn on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 10-3-3 on the campaign, including 7-0-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, following an 3-0 victory at Marquette on Oct. 26.
Redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) leads the Zips in goals (20), assists (7), points (47), shots (76), shots on goal (37) and game-winners (5), while redshirt senior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), redshirt senior Victor Gaulmin (Guipavas, France), junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio), redshirt freshman Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) and senior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario) have added four, four, three, two, two and two goals, respectively, to go along with Gaulmin, Clapier and Jaaskelainen owning a team-best eight, eight and seven assists, respectively, on the campaign. Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 44 saves and owns a 1.00 goals against average.
Akron returns six starters in 2024, including 2023 All-BIG EAST Conference performers, seniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Henry.
The Zips will also be bolstered by the return of key 2023 contributors in Budler, Clapier, Dobrijevic, juniors Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and Wan Kamal.
SCOUTING UCONN
UConn comes into play versus the Zips on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 8-3-5 on the campaign, including 3-2-2 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 1-1 draw at St. John's on Saturday (Oct. 26).
Senior Scott Testori leads the Huskies in goals (4), assists (4), points (12), shots on goal (13) and game-winners (2), while ranking second in shots (29). Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Max Kerkvliet has posted 51 saves en route to owning a 0.82 goals against average with seven shutouts.
The Huskies are ranked fifth in the NCAA in goals against average (.688) and in save percentage (.825), 22nd in shutout percentage (.438), 31st in goal differential (12) and 38th in winning percentage (.656). Individually, Kerkvliet is rated sixth in goalie minutes played (1,440:00) and shutouts (7), seventh in goals against average (.688), 10th in save percentage (.823) and 50th in total saves (51).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting UConn for the third time in program history with the series square with two draws. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron and the No. 4 Huskies battled to a 3-3 draw in the third round of the NCAA Tournament in Storrs, Conn., on Nov. 27, 2005, before the Zips advanced on penalty kicks, 4-3. The two teams were scheduled to meet during the 2018 campaign at FirstEnergy Stadium, but the impending landfall of Hurricane Florence in the Northeast forced the cancellation of the match.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 27, 2005 – STORRS, CONN.)
Akron battled fourth-ranked UConn to a 3-3 draw in the third round of 2005 NCAA Tournament before advancing 4-3 on penalty kicks.
AKRON CAPTURES BIG EAST TITLE
Akron captured its first-ever BIG EAST regular season title with a 3-0 triumph at Marquette on Saturday (Oct. 26), a game after claiming the BIG EAST Midwest Division crown on the strength of a 3-0 victory past Creighton (Oct. 23).
SEVEN ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Villanova on Oct. 12, marked Senior Night in the careers of Jonas Buechte, Dyson Clapier, Victor Gaulmin, Malik Henry, Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Beto Ydrach (Orlando, Fla.).
Buechte has appeared in 72 career games as a Zip recording two goals, including one game-winner, to go along with nine assists on the heels of registering 38 shots, of which 12 fell on frame.
Clapier has appeared in 74 career games as a Zip, recording 18 goals, 20 assists and 56 points on 134 shots, including 61 on goal, with seven game-winning goals.
Gaulmin has appeared in 16 career games as a Zip recording three goals, eight assists, 14 points and one game-winner on the strength of registering 21 shots, including seven on frame.
Henry has appeared in 67 career games as a Zip recording two goals, a game-winner, and 18 assists on the strength of 33 shots, including 18 on net.
Jaaskelainen has started all 16 career games as a Zip recording 20 goals, seven assists, 47 points and five game-winning goals on the strength of registering 76 shots, of which 37 fell on frame.
Wan Kamal has appeared in 72 career games as a Zip, en route to recording eight goals and 18 assists on the strength of 70 shots, including 32 on goal.
Ydrach has appeared in 15 games for Akron this fall, including 14 starts, he owns two assists on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net.
AKRON TRIO EARNS BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS
Emil Jaaskelainen and Mitch Budler were honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Offensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Oct. 28).
Sophomore Josh Hardin (Maple Valley, Wash.) was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll.
AKRON NOTES
• Both meetings between Akron and UConn have resulted in a pair of 3-3 draws.
• Emil Jaaskelainen has equaled the BIG EAST record for goals (12) and points (28) scored in league play entering the Zips' conference finale on Saturday (Nov. 2). Jaaskelainen has matched Ryan Finley of Notre Dame in 2012 (12 goals in 8 games) and Jarrod Smith of West Virginia in 2006 (12 goals in 10 games) in goals scored, while equaling Smith in the same season with 28 points.
• The Zips have allowed the fourth-fewest goals (5) in conference play this season in BIG EAST history.
• Emil Jaaskelainen's 12-shot performance versus Villanova (Oct. 12) equaled a BIG EAST record in league play set by Mac Steeves of Providence on Oct. 24, 2015.
• Emil Jaaskelainen has posted eight multi-goal efforts on the season after recording a brace against Marquette (Oct. 26). He collected a first-half hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12) after netting a pair of goals against Wright State (Oct. 8). He also notched a hat trick in an 8-0 Akron victory over Saint Francis (Sept. 24) and added a pair of goals in a 3-0 triumph over Creighton (Oct. 23), 4-0 victory past DePaul (Oct. 19), a 4-3 win over Butler (Sept. 20) and a 3-3 draw versus Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Jack Roman netted his first career point with an assist on Emil Jaaskelainen's tally in the 76th minute at Marquette.
• Emil Jaaskelainen enters play versus UConn with 63 career goals, a mark that is rated No. 1 among active career leaders in Division I and third overall across all divisions. Additionally, he is ranked third in career points (147) across all divisions.
• In league-only affairs, Emil Jaaskelainen leads the BIG EAST in game-winning goals (.571), goals per tilt (1.71), points per match (4.00), shots per outing (4.86) and shots on goal (2.57), while ranking fourth in assists per game (0.57).
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in total assists (52), assists per tilt (3.25), second in goal differential (27), points per match (8.63), total goals (43) and total points (138), fourth in scoring offense (2.69), eighth in shots per game (16.31), 14th in shots on goal per contest (6.69), 21st in winning percentage (.719), 22nd in shutout percentage (0.44), 31st in corner kicks (5.87) and 33rd in goals against average (1.00).
• Individually, GK Mitch Budler is rated sixth in the NCAA in goalie minutes played (1,440:00) and in shutouts (7) and 36th in goals against average (1.00), Emil Jaaskelainen is ranked first in total goals (20), total points (47), goals per match (1.25), game-winning goals (5) and points per outing (2.94), third in shots per game (4.75) and in shots on goal per contest (2.31), 27th in total assists (7) and 45th in assists per tilt (0.44). Additionally, Victor Gaulmin and Dyson Clapier are 15th in total assists (8) and 25th in assists per game (0.50).
• Mitch Budler is rated ninth among active career leaders in D1 in solo shutouts (21), 17th in goals against average (0.99) and 30th in goalie minutes played (4,547.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (147) and goals (63), second in points per game (1.86) and in goals per tilt (0.80), 15th in assists (21), 19th in assists per contest (0.27) and 29th in games played (79). Malik Henry is rated 27th in career assists (18).
• Through 51 career games, GK Mitch Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 128 saves en route to owning a 0.99 goals against average on the strength of 21 shutouts.
• Thirteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including four newcomers.
• Twenty-three Zips have registered a shot this season, including 11 newcomers.
• All but one field player for the Zips to have played in a game this season has posted a shot for Akron.
• Eleven Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots in 12 tilts this season.
• Dyson Clapier is Akron's active career leaders in goals (18), assists (20), points (56), shots (134), shots on goal (61) and game-winners (6). Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Stefan Dobrijevic have scored 20, seven and six goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 143-59-35 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 143 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 110 of the squad's last 200 matches.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 79-14-15 (.801) mark in league play. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and 11 of the final 14 MAC Tournament titles.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 96-46-31 record.
UP NEXT
Akron opens BIG EAST Tournament play at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 9).
GAME INFO
Akron at UConn | Nov. 2 | 2 PM | Storrs, Conn. | Live Stats | FloSports
HEAD COACHES
UConn: Chris Gbandi (UConn, 2002), Overall Record: 56-70-19 (Ninth Season), Record at UConn: 24-18-9 (Third Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 190-80-43 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 143-59-35 (12th Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its tilt at UConn on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 10-3-3 on the campaign, including 7-0-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, following an 3-0 victory at Marquette on Oct. 26.
Redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) leads the Zips in goals (20), assists (7), points (47), shots (76), shots on goal (37) and game-winners (5), while redshirt senior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), redshirt senior Victor Gaulmin (Guipavas, France), junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio), redshirt freshman Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) and senior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario) have added four, four, three, two, two and two goals, respectively, to go along with Gaulmin, Clapier and Jaaskelainen owning a team-best eight, eight and seven assists, respectively, on the campaign. Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 44 saves and owns a 1.00 goals against average.
Akron returns six starters in 2024, including 2023 All-BIG EAST Conference performers, seniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Henry.
The Zips will also be bolstered by the return of key 2023 contributors in Budler, Clapier, Dobrijevic, juniors Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and Wan Kamal.
SCOUTING UCONN
UConn comes into play versus the Zips on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 8-3-5 on the campaign, including 3-2-2 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 1-1 draw at St. John's on Saturday (Oct. 26).
Senior Scott Testori leads the Huskies in goals (4), assists (4), points (12), shots on goal (13) and game-winners (2), while ranking second in shots (29). Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Max Kerkvliet has posted 51 saves en route to owning a 0.82 goals against average with seven shutouts.
The Huskies are ranked fifth in the NCAA in goals against average (.688) and in save percentage (.825), 22nd in shutout percentage (.438), 31st in goal differential (12) and 38th in winning percentage (.656). Individually, Kerkvliet is rated sixth in goalie minutes played (1,440:00) and shutouts (7), seventh in goals against average (.688), 10th in save percentage (.823) and 50th in total saves (51).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting UConn for the third time in program history with the series square with two draws. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron and the No. 4 Huskies battled to a 3-3 draw in the third round of the NCAA Tournament in Storrs, Conn., on Nov. 27, 2005, before the Zips advanced on penalty kicks, 4-3. The two teams were scheduled to meet during the 2018 campaign at FirstEnergy Stadium, but the impending landfall of Hurricane Florence in the Northeast forced the cancellation of the match.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 27, 2005 – STORRS, CONN.)
Akron battled fourth-ranked UConn to a 3-3 draw in the third round of 2005 NCAA Tournament before advancing 4-3 on penalty kicks.
AKRON CAPTURES BIG EAST TITLE
Akron captured its first-ever BIG EAST regular season title with a 3-0 triumph at Marquette on Saturday (Oct. 26), a game after claiming the BIG EAST Midwest Division crown on the strength of a 3-0 victory past Creighton (Oct. 23).
SEVEN ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Villanova on Oct. 12, marked Senior Night in the careers of Jonas Buechte, Dyson Clapier, Victor Gaulmin, Malik Henry, Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Beto Ydrach (Orlando, Fla.).
Buechte has appeared in 72 career games as a Zip recording two goals, including one game-winner, to go along with nine assists on the heels of registering 38 shots, of which 12 fell on frame.
Clapier has appeared in 74 career games as a Zip, recording 18 goals, 20 assists and 56 points on 134 shots, including 61 on goal, with seven game-winning goals.
Gaulmin has appeared in 16 career games as a Zip recording three goals, eight assists, 14 points and one game-winner on the strength of registering 21 shots, including seven on frame.
Henry has appeared in 67 career games as a Zip recording two goals, a game-winner, and 18 assists on the strength of 33 shots, including 18 on net.
Jaaskelainen has started all 16 career games as a Zip recording 20 goals, seven assists, 47 points and five game-winning goals on the strength of registering 76 shots, of which 37 fell on frame.
Wan Kamal has appeared in 72 career games as a Zip, en route to recording eight goals and 18 assists on the strength of 70 shots, including 32 on goal.
Ydrach has appeared in 15 games for Akron this fall, including 14 starts, he owns two assists on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net.
AKRON TRIO EARNS BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS
Emil Jaaskelainen and Mitch Budler were honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Offensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Oct. 28).
Sophomore Josh Hardin (Maple Valley, Wash.) was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll.
AKRON NOTES
• Both meetings between Akron and UConn have resulted in a pair of 3-3 draws.
• Emil Jaaskelainen has equaled the BIG EAST record for goals (12) and points (28) scored in league play entering the Zips' conference finale on Saturday (Nov. 2). Jaaskelainen has matched Ryan Finley of Notre Dame in 2012 (12 goals in 8 games) and Jarrod Smith of West Virginia in 2006 (12 goals in 10 games) in goals scored, while equaling Smith in the same season with 28 points.
• The Zips have allowed the fourth-fewest goals (5) in conference play this season in BIG EAST history.
• Emil Jaaskelainen's 12-shot performance versus Villanova (Oct. 12) equaled a BIG EAST record in league play set by Mac Steeves of Providence on Oct. 24, 2015.
• Emil Jaaskelainen has posted eight multi-goal efforts on the season after recording a brace against Marquette (Oct. 26). He collected a first-half hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12) after netting a pair of goals against Wright State (Oct. 8). He also notched a hat trick in an 8-0 Akron victory over Saint Francis (Sept. 24) and added a pair of goals in a 3-0 triumph over Creighton (Oct. 23), 4-0 victory past DePaul (Oct. 19), a 4-3 win over Butler (Sept. 20) and a 3-3 draw versus Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Jack Roman netted his first career point with an assist on Emil Jaaskelainen's tally in the 76th minute at Marquette.
• Emil Jaaskelainen enters play versus UConn with 63 career goals, a mark that is rated No. 1 among active career leaders in Division I and third overall across all divisions. Additionally, he is ranked third in career points (147) across all divisions.
• In league-only affairs, Emil Jaaskelainen leads the BIG EAST in game-winning goals (.571), goals per tilt (1.71), points per match (4.00), shots per outing (4.86) and shots on goal (2.57), while ranking fourth in assists per game (0.57).
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in total assists (52), assists per tilt (3.25), second in goal differential (27), points per match (8.63), total goals (43) and total points (138), fourth in scoring offense (2.69), eighth in shots per game (16.31), 14th in shots on goal per contest (6.69), 21st in winning percentage (.719), 22nd in shutout percentage (0.44), 31st in corner kicks (5.87) and 33rd in goals against average (1.00).
• Individually, GK Mitch Budler is rated sixth in the NCAA in goalie minutes played (1,440:00) and in shutouts (7) and 36th in goals against average (1.00), Emil Jaaskelainen is ranked first in total goals (20), total points (47), goals per match (1.25), game-winning goals (5) and points per outing (2.94), third in shots per game (4.75) and in shots on goal per contest (2.31), 27th in total assists (7) and 45th in assists per tilt (0.44). Additionally, Victor Gaulmin and Dyson Clapier are 15th in total assists (8) and 25th in assists per game (0.50).
• Mitch Budler is rated ninth among active career leaders in D1 in solo shutouts (21), 17th in goals against average (0.99) and 30th in goalie minutes played (4,547.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (147) and goals (63), second in points per game (1.86) and in goals per tilt (0.80), 15th in assists (21), 19th in assists per contest (0.27) and 29th in games played (79). Malik Henry is rated 27th in career assists (18).
• Through 51 career games, GK Mitch Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 128 saves en route to owning a 0.99 goals against average on the strength of 21 shutouts.
• Thirteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including four newcomers.
• Twenty-three Zips have registered a shot this season, including 11 newcomers.
• All but one field player for the Zips to have played in a game this season has posted a shot for Akron.
• Eleven Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots in 12 tilts this season.
• Dyson Clapier is Akron's active career leaders in goals (18), assists (20), points (56), shots (134), shots on goal (61) and game-winners (6). Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Stefan Dobrijevic have scored 20, seven and six goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 143-59-35 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 143 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 110 of the squad's last 200 matches.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 79-14-15 (.801) mark in league play. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and 11 of the final 14 MAC Tournament titles.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 96-46-31 record.
UP NEXT
Akron opens BIG EAST Tournament play at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 9).
Players Mentioned
GK
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MF
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MF/F
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MF
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MF
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MF/D
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